Free Web NovelChapter 376: Chapter 376: Not Allowed to Go to School
Linden Golding ran his hands through his hair in frustration. Life had become unbearable. There hadn’t been a moment of peace at home since the New Year, so it was no wonder his wife had gone back to her parents’ house. When he thought about it, this was all his mother and sister’s fault. Sigh!
"Let her go. See what kind of trouble she can stir up. She’ll be crawling back in a few days!" Linden’s mother muttered resentfully, only to get kicked again, this time by Silas Golding.
"I think *you’re* the one trying to raise hell! Now get in there and cook!"
Silas Golding stormed into the house in a rage. He tore a page from a calendar, rolled some shredded tobacco in it, and began to smoke sullenly. Linden Golding sat smoking in the courtyard. Both father and son wore grim expressions, not saying a word. Linden’s mother washed her face and, enduring the pain, went to cook.
Jacqueline Spann walked in, carrying a bundle of firewood. She had hesitated for a long time before finally making a decision. Phoenix Golding was no longer letting her attend school, and no amount of pleading on Jacqueline’s part had worked. Her only option was to seek help from her grandfather and uncle, hoping they would stand up for her.
"Uncle."
Linden Golding, still brooding, looked up and forced a smile. He was in no mood to talk to Jacqueline.
"Uncle, Mom won’t let me go to school anymore."
Tears streamed down Jacqueline’s face before she could say more, and she looked at Linden Golding with a pitiful expression. ’As long as my uncle and grandfather are willing to intervene, they can definitely convince Phoenix Golding.’
But she had overestimated her importance to Linden Golding and his father. They were already fed up with Phoenix Golding, so they weren’t about to show any kindness to her daughter. Besides, her timing was terrible—both father and son were already deeply annoyed.
"It’s enough for a girl to know how to read a little. It’s fine if you don’t go to school. Go home and do some chores."
Linden Golding’s words made Jacqueline’s heart go cold as ice. Her last shred of hope was gone. Tears burst from her eyes as she set down the firewood and knelt before him. "Uncle, I really want to go to school. Please, will you help me?" freewebnovel.cσ๓
"Go home. We can talk about this later."
Linden Golding was agitated and had no patience to speak with Jacqueline, so he waved his hand dismissively.
"Uncle..."
Jacqueline called out again sorrowfully, but Linden Golding suddenly glared at her and scolded irritably, "Hurry home and make dinner! What’s the use of a girl getting so much education!"
’He used to think his niece was sensible and perceptive, but today she was being utterly thoughtless. Couldn’t she see how annoyed he was? Besides, there really was no point in girls getting so much education. They just get married off sooner or later. No matter how well-educated she became, it would only benefit another family. Just look at his sister, Phoenix Golding. She was a teacher now, but her salary wasn’t turned over to the family. All it did was support people with another family name.’
The last of Jacqueline’s hope was thoroughly crushed. She gave Linden Golding a disappointed look, hoisted the firewood onto her shoulder, and headed home. ’I’ll come back in a few days and plead with Uncle and Grandpa again. If that really doesn’t work, I’ll go talk it over with Clayton Xavier. Maybe he can tutor me. I’ll just follow his example and teach myself at home.’
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In the blink of an eye, it was June. The rice paddies had turned from green to a yellowish-green, and the heads of grain were growing heavy. In another month, it would be time for the "double rush"—the massive undertaking of harvesting and planting that required the entire village’s participation. Adrian Hawthorne decided to take a trip south in June. He had already spoken with Goldie Thorne; they would put their plan to catch the adulteress on hold for now. Phoenix Golding’s injuries weren’t healing quickly. She hadn’t left the house in over half a month, hadn’t gone to work, and showed no signs of going out. The only thing anyone heard was her voice, scolding Jacqueline Spann day after day.
That evening after dinner, Goldie and his nephew, Jim Thorne, went to see Adrian Hawthorne, with one of them carrying Nancy Thorne. Dollar, who had grown quite a bit, ran on ahead, wagging his tail. He would stop every few steps and look back, as if urging them to hurry up.
